hegira

UK: 'hegira', 'Hegira': /ˈhɛdʒɪrə/

US: /hɪˈdʒaɪrə, ˈhɛdʒərə/

US: (hi jī′rə, hej′ər ə)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

he•gi•ra /hɪˈdʒaɪrə, ˈhɛdʒərə/   n. [countable] , pl. -ras. 

1. any flight to a more desirable place:
   a hegira across the border to safety.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

He•gi•ra  (hi jī′rə, hej′ər ə), n. 

1. Eastern Religions [Islam.] Hijra.
2. Eastern Religions (l.c.) Also, hejira. any flight or journey to a more desirable or congenial place.

• Arabic; see Hijra
• Medieval Latin

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Hegira, Hejira / ˈhɛdʒɪrə/ noun

1. the departure of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 ad; the starting point of the Muslim era
2. the Muslim era itself
   See also AH
3. (often not capital) an emigration escape or flight

Etymology: 16th Century: from Medieval Latin, from Arabic hijrah emigration or flight